NBS-09-02
Image of the entire visible Earth, taken with a circular fisheye lens
(click for full size image).

Mission Data

Mission Identifier

Date

Maximum Alt.
(MSL)

Comments

NBS-09-05

November 21, 2009

110,504 ft

Flew 8 student built
payloads, all using the Nearsys
BalloonSat mini flight computers. The flight computers controlled
the payload heaters. Main mission objectives were to test the
BalloonSat mini kit, to flight test a new Canon camera using CHDK hack, and to flight
test the new SPOT 2 GPS tracker. Total of 28 participants made this our
largest launch effort to date.

3000 gram balloon, 11.5 lb payload, 72" TAC-1 parachute

NBS-09-04

October 3, 2009

~85,000 ft
(exact max not known)

Our 2nd hydrogen balloon
launch (about 10 seconds after the our first). Mission objective was to
learn how to conduct a hydrogen launch. Launch was conducted with Idaho
Space
Grant. Two hydrogen balloons were launched (NBS-09-03 and NBS-09-04).
Touch down of both parachutes was witnessed.

Our first hydrogen balloon
launch. Mission objective was to learn how to conduct a hydrogen
launch. Launch was conducted with Idaho Space Grant. Two hydrogen
balloons were launched (NBS-09-03 and NBS-09-04). Touch down of both
parachutes was witnessed.

1200 gram balloon, 6 lb payload, 60" Tac-1 parachute

NBS-09-02

September 27, 2009

106,819 ft

Flew 3 student payloads,
including a circular fisheye lens. Witnessed the balloon burst for the
2nd time to date.

3000 gram balloon

NBS-09-01

January 11, 2009

110,858 ft

Winter launch with the
goal of photographing Lake Tahoe and to try a second cell phone test.
Flight path had us fly directly over Reno at 110,000 feet. Longest
recovery hike to date. Also captured high quality video of the balloon
bursting. Verified that cell phones do not function at altitude.

3000 gram balloon

NBS-08-07

November 23, 2008

87,739 ft

Main mission goal was to
determine if a cell phone would function at altitude. Cell phone lost
reception above 20,000 feet. Also captured high quality video of the
balloon bursting.

2000 gram balloon

NBS-08-06

November 8, 2008

98,786 ft

Flew 4 student payloads as
part of a class activity. Also flew a Canon camera with the CHDK hack for the first
time.

3000 gram balloon

NBS-08-05

July 29, 2008

99,570 ft

Second balloon launched
during the HALE event. This balloon
carried 6 payloads plus the communications payload. Check out the
combined photo gallery for both
NBS-08-04 and NBS-08-05. Also check out the YouTube video.

First balloon launched for
the High Altitude LEGO Extravaganza (HALE).
The balloon carried 5 LEGO NXT payloads plus the communicatios payload.
One the payloads was dropped from 82,000 feet and free fell for 60
seconds before deploying it's parachute. The rest of the payloads
continued on up to just shy of 100,000 feet. We relied heavily on the
SPOT GPS units to recover the payloads. Check out the combined photo gallery for both NBS-08-04
and NBS-08-05.

Mission objectives were to
1) test the SPOT GPS device again and 2) to recover a very small
payload. Both objectives were in preparation for the HALE launch. During HALE, we will be
deploying a small free-fall experiment and we wanted to know how
difficult it would be to locate a small payload. This mission was by
far the most hastily put together to date. At the last minute we
decided we wanted one more test of the SPOT. The payload consisted of
the SPOT, a logging GPS unit (so that we would have a record of
trajectory at high altitude), and a small camera. The mission was a
complete success. 350 gram balloon, 1.2 lb payload, 20-inch TAC-1
parachute. Altitude profile.

NBS-08-02

March 24, 2008

100,351 ft

Mission objective was to
re-fly a large instrumentation payload, which ended up getting too cold
during
the last launch. Secondary objectives included testing of a new satellite-based
tracking system, testing of a new on board GPS
logger, testing of a miniature autopilot system for a glider, testing
of 900 MHz data telemetry system, the performance of a LEGO motor at
altitude, and a new camera with fisheye lens. Total payload weight was
25 lbs.
Everything functioned as planned with two exceptions: the secondary
communication system's J-Pole antenna broke again (during descent) and
the
fisheye camera did not function. 3000 gram balloon, 25 lb payload,
TAC-9A parachute. Check out:

Mission objective was to
fly a large instrumentation payload. We also tested software that
automatically logs the GPS packets received on the ground station
radio. We
launched during a snow storm. Both the primary and secondary
communication systems failed (at different times). The tertiary,
satellite-based, system worked and the payloads were recovered the next
day. 3000 gram balloon, 21 lb payload, TAC-9A parachute. Photo gallery.

NBS-07-08

November 4, 2007

111,000+
(exact max not known)

Joint mission between UNR
and TMCC. 5 student payloads. Never
lost visual contact. Witnessed the balloon popping at 111,000+ feet
with the naked eye. Unfortunately, none of us wrote down the actual
altitude (we were all busy watching the burst). The final altitude was
somewhere between 111k and 112k. First launch at the Granite Springs
site. Photo gallery. 3000
gram balloon, 84-inch TAC-1 parachute.

Low altitude mission.
Tested dual balloon cutdown system for floating a payload. Also tested
deployment of an RC paraglider at about 1000 feet AGL. Photo gallery.

NBS-07-04

August 8, 2007

8,444'

Tethered and low altitude
missions. Tethered missions to test new 8 channel DTMF system and
deployment of an RC paraglider. Low altitude test on same day to test
dual balloon cutdown system for floating a payload. Photo gallery.

NBS-07-03

July 26, 2007

~1000' AGL
(exact max not known)

Low altitude mission to
re-test cutdown system. Successful mission. Photo gallery includes a
video of the parachute opening after cutdown.

NBS-07-02

July 24, 2007

65,642'

First launch at Bedell
Flats location (NW of Reno). Planned for low altitude mission to
evaluate
feasibility of launch location, new primary communication system.
Cutdown system failed but payloads successfully tracked and recovered
after a long hike near Pyramid Lake. Photo gallery.

NBS-07-01

February 17, 2007

~85,000'
(exact max not known)

Joint mission with UNR,
UNLV, WNCC. The launch location was about 2 hours from Las Vegas. The
mission objectives were to test a new digital SLR camera, test a small
video camera, and fly a savonius rotor (horizontal axis windmill)
with the hope it provided gyroscopic stabilization. The surface winds
were so high, that we popped one balloon during filling and then broke
the savonius rotor during the second launch. All payloads were
recovered. Check out the YouTube video
and photo gallery.